Well, here goes; my first review for RWI, so please go easy on me!
I'm going to review the first rep I bought when I joined this group; the Planet Ocean 42.5mm black bezel with white numerals, but before I do, I just wanted to say thanks to you all for your invaluable help, information and kindness in helping out a relative noob to the rep world, for making me feel welcome, and for helping me once again find satisfaction in a hobby I long ago thought I'd abandoned. I will, however, blame you all when I'm destitute!
There's not much I can say about this particular watch that hasn't been said by more knowledgeable and eloquent members before, but it's always useful to show others, particular the newer members, what is currently on offer for the price.
I bought my PO in October from Narikaa, while he was on one of his buying trips to Thailand. It cost 65GBP (approx. 105USD) with free air mail shipping, and took 10 days to arrive from payment. My first impression was that this was a pretty hefty watch, even though I went for the smaller model. I was also immediately struck by the obvious quality of this watch. I knew I was getting a relatively inexpensive piece, yet still I was very pleasantly surprised. OK, there are some giveaway flaws with this model (HEV position, dial logo, crown, case back engraving, date window bevel, bezel, pearl, the list goes on) that differentiate it from the gen, but really, for less than 5% of the cost of the real thing, I'm prepared to accept that.
The engraving on the bracelet clasp is nice and deep, although a little rough compared with the gen. You would have to have a real good look to see this though. Now, I've only held the gen 45mm, so someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that the 42mm should not have the word 'Professional' on the clasp. No matter, I like it anyway, and I'm not planning on fooling any AD's!
The only real disappointment, and it's the same for most reps, expensive or otherwise, is the quality of the lume...
It lasts about 10 minutes if you're lucky, and is pretty weak anyway. The hands are much brighter than the markers, and the pearl is so weak as to be invisible after 30 seconds! Still, I consider this a future mod that I'll do myself; I'm already practicing on some old Canal Street reps I got years ago.
In terms of accuracy, it gains around 5 seconds per day at the moment, which doesn't really bother me, as I enjoy setting it each day anyway; it isn't at all noisy (like I've heard some 21j movements can be) and the power reserve is around 48 hours from full charge to dead.
So, there you go. I hope some may find this useful. The moral of the story is that if you want a 1:1 rep, buy the gen. If you want a good quality watch that tells the time, and looks enough like the real deal to make you happy to wear it, without worrying about a stranger on the street taking a loupe to your wrist, you can't go far wrong with this for £65.
Oh, and special thanks to Reg. He took all my pestering emails like a trooper!
I'm going to review the first rep I bought when I joined this group; the Planet Ocean 42.5mm black bezel with white numerals, but before I do, I just wanted to say thanks to you all for your invaluable help, information and kindness in helping out a relative noob to the rep world, for making me feel welcome, and for helping me once again find satisfaction in a hobby I long ago thought I'd abandoned. I will, however, blame you all when I'm destitute!
There's not much I can say about this particular watch that hasn't been said by more knowledgeable and eloquent members before, but it's always useful to show others, particular the newer members, what is currently on offer for the price.
I bought my PO in October from Narikaa, while he was on one of his buying trips to Thailand. It cost 65GBP (approx. 105USD) with free air mail shipping, and took 10 days to arrive from payment. My first impression was that this was a pretty hefty watch, even though I went for the smaller model. I was also immediately struck by the obvious quality of this watch. I knew I was getting a relatively inexpensive piece, yet still I was very pleasantly surprised. OK, there are some giveaway flaws with this model (HEV position, dial logo, crown, case back engraving, date window bevel, bezel, pearl, the list goes on) that differentiate it from the gen, but really, for less than 5% of the cost of the real thing, I'm prepared to accept that.
The engraving on the bracelet clasp is nice and deep, although a little rough compared with the gen. You would have to have a real good look to see this though. Now, I've only held the gen 45mm, so someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that the 42mm should not have the word 'Professional' on the clasp. No matter, I like it anyway, and I'm not planning on fooling any AD's!
The only real disappointment, and it's the same for most reps, expensive or otherwise, is the quality of the lume...
It lasts about 10 minutes if you're lucky, and is pretty weak anyway. The hands are much brighter than the markers, and the pearl is so weak as to be invisible after 30 seconds! Still, I consider this a future mod that I'll do myself; I'm already practicing on some old Canal Street reps I got years ago.
In terms of accuracy, it gains around 5 seconds per day at the moment, which doesn't really bother me, as I enjoy setting it each day anyway; it isn't at all noisy (like I've heard some 21j movements can be) and the power reserve is around 48 hours from full charge to dead.
So, there you go. I hope some may find this useful. The moral of the story is that if you want a 1:1 rep, buy the gen. If you want a good quality watch that tells the time, and looks enough like the real deal to make you happy to wear it, without worrying about a stranger on the street taking a loupe to your wrist, you can't go far wrong with this for £65.
Oh, and special thanks to Reg. He took all my pestering emails like a trooper!
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